A Shiny Brand New Semester

Boy didn't summer go by quick?!  But no matter how fast it went for you all I hope you at least enjoyed yourself a bit doing something fun.  Sadly now it's time to put away the sun tan lotion and swimsuits and get back to the grinding stone.

School can be be tough, but school can also be a lot of fun.  Here in the BYU French Department we want to make sure that you have fun with French in all of its facets on and off campus.  There are lots of programs and activities sponsored by the French Department and other departments that will help you have a great experience with French this semester.  Some of these events things are:

•  French films shown by the International Cinema

•  Workshops put on by the College of Humanities

•  French themed activities put on by Le Club (BYU's French Club)

•  Study abroad programs (there is one coming up next year!)

•  And more (we'll post them as they show up)

For the new freshmen, enjoy French 101 (most of your teachers are students too).  For the seasoned French students, try something new this semester to keep French exciting for you.  And lastly for all of you about to graduate, get to know your professors (you never know when you might need a good reference).

Check this blog often (and our facebook page); we'll be posting previews for activities, events, workshops, etc. as they come up.  Also we'll post a general calendar for everyone so you can start keeping track of the events that you want to attend this semester.

To all: Bonne Chance!  Enjoy yourselves!

Know your BYUFS faculty Part 2

Here it is! Part 2 of the Know your BYUFS faculty quiz! Part 2 is separate from Part 1, so you don't need to have done Part 1 to participate in Part 2.

This week's prize:
A $5 gift certificate to the BYU Bookstore.

To enter, send an email to byufrenchstudies@gmail.com by Monday, March 31st with the subject line "BYUFS Quiz 3/25/08" exactly as you see it here. In the email list your letter answers only to the questions like so:

1. A
2. B
3. C

...and so on.

Please include your first and last name in you email also so we know who wins. The winner will be randomly chosen from the entries with the most correct responses. Winners will be notified by email and will pick their prize up from the French and Italian department front desk. Sorry, but we will not be able to send out any prizes by mail.

Here are your questions:

1. If I say "sauna" you say...
a. Robert Erickson
b. Jesse Hurlbut
c. Yvon Le Bras
d. Nicolaas Unlandt

2. Which of the following is French-Canadian?
a. Johanne Hillam
b. Yvon Le Bras
c. Michaela Cottle
d. Marc Olivier

3. Who worked as a professor at the University of Kentucky before being hired at BYU?
a. Robert Erickson
b. Jesse Hurlbut
c. Michaela Cottle
d. Nicolaas Unlandt

4. Who lived for over two years with his/her family in the Loire Valley?
a. Michaela Cottle
b. Corry Cropper
c. Johanne Hillam
d. Anca Sprenger

5. This faculty member wrote a chapter on microscopes as part of his dissertation.
a. Corry Cropper
b. Jesse Hurlbut
c. Marc Olivier
d. Scott Sprenger

6. This faculty member wrote a thesis on Mormons in French literature.
a. Corry Cropper
b. Yvon Le Bras
c. Jesse Hurlbut
d. Wilfried Decoo

Good luck!

Current Events Quiz - Know your BYUFS faculty Part 1

Time for another Current Events Quiz, but this time there is a little twist. This week's quiz isn't on current events, this week (and next week) you'll be quized on your knowledge of the French Studies department faculty. Next week's quiz will be on the same subject.

This week's prize:
A complete collection of four French Studies Designer buttons, three of which are still unreleased.

To enter, send an email to byufrenchstudies@gmail.com by Friday March 14th with the subject line "BYUFS Quiz 3/10/08" exactly as you see it here. In the email list your letter answers only to the questions like so:

1. A
2. B
3. C

...and so on.

Please include your first and last name in you email also so we know who wins. The winner will be randomly chosen from the entries with the most correct responses. Winners will be notified by email and will pick their prize up from the French and Italian department front desk. Sorry, but we will not be able to send out any prizes by mail.

Here are your questions:

1. Who chanted "A bas De Gaulle!" in the presence of the former French president during the riots of mai '68?
a. Chantal Thompson
b. Wilfried Decoo
c. Nicolaas Unlandt
d. Yvon Le Bras

2. Who is the most assiduous cyclist in the department?
a. Daryl Lee
b. Corry Cropper
c. Chantal Thompson
d. Scott Sprenger

3. Which faculty member once played semi-professional baseball in France?
a. Scott Sprenger
b. Daryl Lee
c. Corry Cropper
d. Robert Erickson

4. Name the faculty member who worked for some time in the Middle East.
a. Chantal Thompson
b. Nicolaas Unlandt
c. Daryl Lee
d. Robert Erickson

5. Who was an elite long jumper in her youth?
a. Chantal Thompson
b. Michaela Cottle
c. Johanne Hillam
d. Anca Sprenger

6. Who has a book manuscript on the subject of kissing?
a. Corry Cropper
b. Jesse Hurlbut
c. Anca Sprenger
d. Wilfried Decoo

7. Who was once a trombonist in the U.S. Army?
a. Robert Erickson
b. Marc Olivier
c. Jesse Hurlbut
d. Corry Cropper

Another French Studies Blog Reader Wins Big

Congratulations to Danielle Gardner who won our most recent current events quiz challenge. Danielle was chosen randomly from the entries with the most correct answers. She wins a $5 gift card to the BYU Bookstore.

Thanks for all of those who participated. If you didn't win, don't worry! We'll have another quiz up soon so keep checking back for your next chance to win fabulous prizes. In the meantime here are the answers from the quiz:

1. Françoise de Panafieu, rivale de Bertrand Delanoë pour être le prochain maire de Paris, a traité ce dernier de ______.
a. sale porc
b. communiste
c. faux c**
d. tocard

2. Sarkozy a récemment proposé un changement au curriculum pour les enfants de 10 ans. Il propose que chaque enfant étudie...
a. la vie d'un enfant juif tué par les nazis.
b. l'histoire de l'avortement en Europe.
c. la vie d'un pape.
d. leur propre ADN (DNA).

3. ____ a gagné le BAFTA (= British Academy Award) pour meilleure actrice cette année.
a. Audrey Tautou
b. Emmanuelle Béart
c. Marion Cotillard
d. Juliette Binoche

4. Cette semaine la France a reconnu officiellement l'indépendance de quel pays?
a. La Serbie
b. La Géorgie
c. L'Irak
d. Le Kosovo

5. _____, auteur de "La jalousie" et considéré comme le "pape du nouveu roman" est décédé cette semaine.
a. Butor
b. Céline
c. Robbe-Grillet
d. Simon

Current Events Quiz - Last day to enter!

It's time again to test yourself against the Current Events Quiz! Again we have a $5 gift card for the BYU Bookstore up for grabs.

To enter, send an email to byufrenchstudies@gmail.com by Wednesday February 27th with the subject "BYUFS Quiz 2/22/08" exactly as you see it here. In the email list your letter answers only to the questions like so:

1. A
2. B
3. C

...and so on.

Please include your first and last name in you email also so we know who wins. The winner will be randomly chosen from the entries with the most correct responses. Winners will be notified by email and will pick their prize up from the French and Italian department front desk. Sorry, but we will not be able to send out any prizes by mail.

And now, on to the questions:

1. Françoise de Panafieu, rivale de Bertrand Delanoë pour être le prochain maire de Paris, a traité ce dernier de ______.
a. sale porc
b. communiste
c. faux c**
d. tocard

2. Sarkozy a récemment proposé un changement au curriculum pour les enfants de 10 ans. Il propose que chaque enfant étudie...
a. la vie d'un enfant juif tué par les nazis.
b. l'histoire de l'avortement en Europe.
c. la vie d'un pape.
d. leur propre ADN (DNA).

3. ____ a gagné le BAFTA (= British Academy Award) pour meilleure actrice cette année.
a. Audrey Tautou
b. Emmanuelle Béart
c. Marion Cotillard
d. Juliette Binoche

4. Cette semaine la France a reconnu officiellement l'indépendance de quel pays?
a. La Serbie
b. La Géorgie
c. L'Irak
d. Le Kosovo

5. _____, auteur de "La jalousie" et considéré comme le "pape du nouveu roman" est décédé cette semaine.
a. Butor
b. Céline
c. Robbe-Grillet
d. Simon

Quiz Winner!!

Congratulations to Jessica Tyler who won our very first current events quiz challenge. Jessica was chosen randomly from the entries with the most correct answers that were submitted. She wins a $5 gift card to the BYU Bookstore.

Thanks for all of those who participated. We'll have another quiz up soon so keep checking back for your chance to win. In the meantime here are the answers from last week's quiz:

1. Jérôme Kerviel, c'est un
   a. politicien
   b. missionnaire
   c. acteur
   d. trader
2. Quel politicien américain a dit: "Si nous ne changeons pas de politique, nous deviendrons la France du XXIe siècle"?
   a. Mike Huckabee
   b. Mitt Romney
   c. Hillary Clinton
   d. John McCain
3. Nicolas Sarkozy nomme sa philosophie politique une "politique de _____."
   a. grandeur
   b. civilisation
   c. libéralisme
   d. bonheur
4. Sarkozy vient de se marier avec
   a. Paris Hilton
   b. Isabelle Huppert
   c. Liya Kebede
   d. Carla Bruni
5. Persepolis raconte l'histoire d'une jeune femme
   a. iranienne
   b. irakienne
   c. palestinienne
   d. algérienne
6. Selon la loi, on ne peut plus _____ dans des cafés parisiens.
   a. boire de l'alcool
   b. manger du boeuf américain
   c. fumer
   d. parler anglais
7. Ce joueur de tennis a placé deuxième à l'Open d'Australie.
   a. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
   b. Richard Gasquet
   c. Henri Leconte
   d. Sébastien Grosjean
8. Le traité de _____, autorisé par le parlement français cette semaine, remplace le projet de constitution européenne.
   a. Paris
   b. Bruxelles
   c. Nice
   d. Lisbonne

Note: In order to allow more people a chance to win, winners can only win prizes once a month.

Current Events Quiz - Closed

Update: All entries must be submitted today (Monday February 11th) in order to be considered for the prize. Get yours in now.

We are starting a weekly current events quiz this week. Current BYU students will be able to email in responses to this weekly quiz and be eligible to win great prizes every week. This week's prize is a $5 gift certificate to the BYU Bookstore.

To enter, send an email to byufrenchstudies@gmail.com by Monday February 11th with the subject "BYUFS Quiz 2/8/08" exactly as you see it here. In the email list your letter answers only to the questions like so:

1. A
2. B
3. C

...and so on.

Please include your first and last name in you email also so we know who wins. The winner will be randomly chosen from the entries with the most correct responses. Winners will be notified by email and will pick their prize up from the French and Italian department front desk. Sorry, but we will not be sending out any prizes by mail.

Here is the quiz, good luck!

1. Jérôme Kerviel, c'est un
   a. politicien
   b. missionnaire
   c. acteur
   d. trader
2. Quel politicien américain a dit: "Si nous ne changeons pas de politique, nous deviendrons la France du XXIe siècle"?
   a. Mike Huckabee
   b. Mitt Romney
   c. Hillary Clinton
   d. John McCain
3. Nicolas Sarkozy nomme sa philosophie politique une "politique de _____."
   a. grandeur
   b. civilisation
   c. libéralisme
   d. bonheur
4. Sarkozy vient de se marier avec
   a. Paris Hilton
   b. Isabelle Huppert
   c. Liya Kebede
   d. Carla Bruni
5. Persepolis raconte l'histoire d'une jeune femme
   a. iranienne
   b. irakienne
   c. palestinienne
   d. algérienne
6. Selon la loi, on ne peut plus _____ dans des cafés parisiens.
   a. boire de l'alcool
   b. manger du boeuf américain
   c. fumer
   d. parler anglais
7. Ce joueur de tennis a placé deuxième à l'Open d'Australie.
   a. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
   b. Richard Gasquet
   c. Henri Leconte
   d. Sébastien Grosjean
8. Le traité de _____, autorisé par le parlement français cette semaine, remplace le projet de constitution européenne.
   a. Paris
   b. Bruxelles
   c. Nice
   d. Lisbonne
   

Hint: You might find some of the answers in this very blog, but not all of them.

French Studies Holiday Events

French Studies is putting on a few events in the next few weeks to celebrate the holidays. See details below and check the calender for other upcoming events.

French Studies Christmas Presentation
Thursday, December 6th
11:00 am
JFSB B002

French Choir Christmas Concert
Thursday, December 13th
6:00 pm
Varsity Theater (in the WILK)

Update: Mardi Party

Here's all the info on Le Club's Mardi Party. Don't miss it!

Mardi Party!
Tuesday, 20 February - 7:00 pm
(That's Mardi Gras)
Come early to lay claim on a mask!
KMB Ballroom (South end of campus, near J-Dawgs)
Music from local band Maxfield, dancing, food, and a really good time.

Contests: Coolest costume! Tastiest treat!